Helena-West Helena housing authorities receive HUD funding

Monday

Mar 24, 2014 at 2:27 PM

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $16,501,505 to 105 Arkansas public housing authorities, including Helena and West Helena housing authorities, to make major large-scale improvements. Helena's share of the funds totaled $360,596 and West Helena received $252, 618.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $16,501,505 to 105 Arkansas public housing authorities, including Helena and West Helena housing authorities, to make major large-scale improvements. Nationally, $1.8 billion was awarded to public housing authorities in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, covering the nation’s 1.1 million public housing units.

Helena’s share of the funds totaled $360,596 and West Helena received $252, 618.

The grants announced today are provided through HUD’s Capital Fund Program, which provides annual funding to approximately 3,100 public housing authorities to build, repair, renovate and/or modernize the public housing in their communities. . Unlike routine maintenance, capital needs are extensive improvements required to make the housing decent and economically sustainable, such as replacing roofs or updating plumbing and electrical systems to increase energy efficiency.

“This funding is critically important to public housing agencies as they work to provide the best housing possible for their residents,” said Tammye Treviño, HUD Region VI Regional Administrator. “While the funding announced today will never be enough to meet the tremendous backlog of capital needs, HUD is working closely with the Congress to expand efforts to generate approximately $6 billion in private investment for the recapitalization of public housing.”